Mote Marine Laboratory

Dr. Pierce joined Mote Marine Laboratory as a senior scientist in August 1981 when he established research into the fate and effects of toxic substances in the aquatic environment. His studies address the source, fate and toxicity of chemical contaminants — pesticides, industrial pollutants and petroleum — as well as natural biotoxins — red tide toxins.

In 1983, Dr. Pierce was appointed co-director of Mote Marine Laboratory and in 1985 he was appointed to the position of associate director. In this capacity he worked closely with the director and board of trustees to map out Mote's future. He was then appointed as the first director of research in 1989, continuing to pursue his research in chemical fate and effects while focusing on developing long-term research programs to enhance the research division at Mote.

In 1998 Dr. Pierce became director of the Center for Ecotoxicology, where he continues to pursue his research interests as principal investigator for several multidisciplinary research projects, serves on graduate student research committees, publishes scientific manuscripts, lectures nationally and internationally and serves as a reviewer of grant proposals for government agencies and of manuscripts for scientific journals.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Plant Pathology-Entomology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, R.I.

Ph.D. Chemical Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, GSO, Narragansett, R.I.

M.S. Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida

B.A. Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida

Honors: (Last 10 years)

• USF Academy of Inventors, 2009
• USF, Department of Chemistry, Outstanding Chemistry Alumnus, 2005
• USF, Distinguished Alumni Award, 2004

Research Grants:

• 2007-2010: Effects of Mosquito Control Pesticides on Listed Species Inhabiting Managed Lands in the FL. Keys. US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), PI; $265,000 for three years.
• 2006-2011: Red Tide Toxins, Fate and Effects: FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC): -Project Manager for total project of $5 mil. (~$1 m. annually) -PI; Toxin fate & Effects sub-project (~$200,000/year)
• 2006-2011 Effects of aerosolized brevetoxins on human respiratory function; National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), PI, $425,000 ($85,000/annually)
• 2006-2009 Persistence and trophic transfer of brevetoxins in shellfish and predators: FWCC-PI; $180,000 for 3-year project.
• 2004-2005 Ozone treatment for red tide control; S.T.A.R.T.; PI, $35,000.
• 2003-2006 Red tide studies along the Florida Gulf coast: FWCC, PI, $700,000, three years
• 2003-2006 Clay flocculation of red tide cells and toxins, NOAA-ECOHAB; PI, in cooperation with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, $194,000 for three years.
• 2003-2006 Brevetoxins and metabolites in NSP-Contaminated shellfish, NOAA- ECOHAB-Project Manager; including US FDA Seafood Safety Lab, FL Fish and Wildlife Research Lab, U.N.C.W., Center for Marine Science, and Mote Marine Lab: Total project, $455,000 for three years.
• 2003-2006 Environmental monitoring for aerosol brevetoxins human health effects, FLDOH/CDC; PI, $175,000 for three years.
• 2000-2003 Red Tide Aerosol and Human Effects, NIEHS; PI, $180,000 for three years.
• 2002-2005 Charlotte Harbor Eco-Toxicology Studies, Mote Scientific Foundation. $45,000 annually for three years.
• 2000-2002 Clay toxin aerosol studies, U.S. EPA and FWCC.
• 2000-2002 Limnocorral Clay studies for red tide mitigation, FWCC.
• 1999-2001 Manatee exposure studies, FWCC.
• 1999-2001 Exposure to toxin aerosols studies: FWCC
• 1999-2002 Red tide public information, studies, FWCC
• 1999-2001 Ozone depuration of red tide toxins in clams, University of Florida and National Sea Grant.
• 1999-2002 Fate of red tide toxins in water, air, and organisms, FWCC
• 1998-2002 ECOHAB-FL Harmful Algal Bloom Studies, Toxin Fate and Effects., NOAA
• 1998- 2000 Effects of Mosquito Control Pesticides in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, U.S. EPA. FL Keys Water Quality Program.

Publications (Last 20 years)

2010 Kirkpatrick, B., R.H. Pierce, Y.S. Cheng, M.S. Henry, P.C. Blum^a, S. Osborn, K. Nierenberg^a, B.A. Pederson, L.E. Fleming, A. Reich, J. Naar, G. Kirkpatrick, L.C.  Backer, D.G. Baden. 2009. Inland Transport of Aerosolized Florida Red Tide Toxins, Harmful Algae, In Press. 

2010 Cheng, Y.S., Y.Zhou, C. M. Irvin, R.H. Pierce, M.S. Henry, D.G. Baden , Chracterization of Florida red tide aerosol and the temporary profile of aerosol  concentration, Toxicon., In Press; Available Online 2010;  Ross, C., R. Ritson-Williams, R. Pierce, M. Henry, J. Bullington, V. Paul., Effects of the Florida red tide dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis, on oxidative stress metamorphosis of larvae of the coral, Porites astreodies. Harmful Algae, 9, p 173-179.

2009 Fleming,L., J. Bean, B. Kirkpatrick, Y-S. Cheng, R. Pierce, J. Naar, K. Nierenberg, L. Backer, A. Wanner, A. Reich, Y. Zhou, S. Watkins, M. Henry, J. Zaias, W. Abraham, J. Benson,  A. Cassedy, J. Hollenbeck, G. Kirkpatrick, T. Clarke, and D. Baden. 2009, Exposure and Effect Assessment of Aerosolized Red Tide Toxins (Brevetoxins) and Asthma. Environmental Health Perspectives,              117 (7)  p. 1095-1100.

2008 Pierce, R.H., and M.S. Henry. Harmful Algal Toxins of the Florida Red Tide (Karenia  brevis): Natural Chemical Stressors in South Florida Coastal Ecosystems. Ecotoxicology. 17 (7) 623-631.

2008 Pierce, R.H., M.S. Henry and P.C. Blum. Brevetoxin abundance and composition during ECOHAB Florida field monitoring cruises in the Gulf of Mexico. Continental Shelf Research.  1(1) 45-58.              

2007 Twiner M.J., M-Y Bottein-Dechraoui, Z. Wang, C.M. Mikulski, M.S. Henry, R.H. Pierce, G.J. Doucette. Extraction and analysis of lipophilic brevetoxins from the red tide dinoflagellate Karenia brevis. Analytical Biochemistry 369, 128-135.

2006 Pierce, R.H., M.S. Henry, P.C. Blum, S.M. Plakas, H.R. Granade, E.L.E. Jester, K.R. El Said, R.W. Dickey, K.A. Steidinger, P.S. Scott, L.J. Flewelling, J.L.C. Wright.  Comparison of Methods for Determination of Brevetoxins and their Metabolites in NSP-Toxic Bivalved Molluscs. Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Molluscan Shellfish Safety, Galway Ireland, June 14-18, 2004. (Edts. K. Henshilwood, B. Deegan, T. McMahon, C. Cusack, S. Keaveney, J. Silke, M. O'Cinneide, D. Lyons and P. Hess). The Marine Institute, Rinville, Oranmore, Galway, Ireland. p.37-42.

2006 Abraham, A.,S. M. Plakas, Z. Wang, E.L.E. Jester, K.R. El Said, H.R. Granade, M.S. Henry, P.C. Blum, R.H. Pierce and R.W. Dickey, Characterization of Polar brevetoxin derivatives from Karenia brevis cultures and natural blooms. Toxicon, 48. 104-115.

2005 Flewelling, L. J.P. Naar, J. P. Abbott, D.G. Baden, N.B. Barros, G.D. Bossart, M-Y.D. Bottein, D.G. Hammond, E.M. Haubold, C.A. Heil, M.S. Henry, H.M. Jacocks, T.A. Leighfield, R.H. Pierce, T.D. Pitchford, S.A. Rommel, P.S. Scott, K.A. Steidinger, E.W. Truby, F.M. Van Dolah, J.H. Landsberg. Red Tides and Marine Mammal Mortalities. Nature 435, June 9, 2005.

2005 Pierce, R.H., M.S. Henry, P.C. Blum and E.M. Mueller. Aerial and Tidal Transport of Mosquito Control Pesticides into the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Inter. Jour. Tropical Biol. Conserv. 53: 117-125.

2005 Backer LC, Kirkpatrick B, Fleming LE, Cheng YS, Pierce R, Beane JA, Clark R, Johnson D, Wanner A, Tamer R, Baden D. 2005. Occupational Exposure to Aerosolized Brevetoxins during Florida Red Tide Events: Effects on a Healthy Worker Population Environ Health Perspect: Vol. 113, p. 644- 650.

2005 Pierce, R.H., M.S. Henry, P.C. Blum, S.L. Hamel, B. Kirkpatrick, Y.S. Cheng, Y. Zhou, C.M. Irvin, J. Naar, A. Weidner, L.E. Fleming, L.C. Backer, and D.G. Baden. Brevetoxin Composition in Water and Marine Aerosol along a Florida Beach: Assessing Potential Human Exposure to Marine Biotoxins.  Harmful Algae. 4, pp. 965-972).

2004 Pierce, R.H., M.S. Henry, R. Dickey and S. Plakas^, NSP Toxins and metabolites in oysters, clams, and whelks. Harmful Algae 2002.  Steidinger, K.A., Landsberg, J.H., Tomas, C.R. and Vargo, G.A. (Eds.). Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and International Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, p. 294-296. 

2004 Pierce, R.H., M.S. Henry, C.J. Higham, P.C. Blum, M.R. Sengco and D.M. Anderson. 20 Removal of harmful algal cells (Karenia brevis) and toxins from seawater culture by clay flocculation. Harmful Algae. 3, 141-148.

2004 Pierce, R.H., D.L. Wetzel, and E.D. Estevez.  Charlotte Harbor Initiative:  Assessing the Ecological Health of Southwest Florida's Charlotte Harbor Estuary. Ecotox. 13, 274-284.

2003 Schneider, K.R., R.H. Pierce and G.E. Rodrick, 2003. The degradation of Karenia brevis toxins utilizing ozonated seawater. Harmful Algae, 2. 101-107.

2003 Backer, L.C., L.E. Fleming, A. Rowan, Y-S. Cheng, J. Benson, R.H. Pierce J. Zias, J. Bean, G.D. Bossart, D. Johnson, R. Quimbo and D.G. Baden. 2003. Recreational exposure to aerosolized brevetoxins during FL red tide events. Harmful Algae, 2,19-28.

2003 Pierce, R.H, M.S. Henry, P.C. Blum, J. Lyons, Y.S. Cheng, D. Yazzie, and Y. Zhou.  Brevetoxin  Concentrations in Marine Aerosol: Human Exposure Levels During a Karenia brevis Harmful Algal Bloom. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol., 70 (1), 161-165.

2003 Pierce, R. H. , M.S. Henry, J. Lyons, G.E. Rodrick, P. Aaronson, T.A. Leighfield, 2003. Comparison of red tide toxin reduction in clams using ozone purification and relay cleansing. In: Molluscan Shellfish Safety (Ed) A. Villalba, B. Reuera, J.L. Romalde and R. Beiras. Proceedings of the 4^th International Conference on Molluscan Shellfish Safety, Santiago de Compostela, Spain, June 4 - 8, 2002. Conselleria de Pescae Asuntos Maritimos, Xunta de Galicia, IOC, UNESCO, p 145-150.

2001 Pierce, R.H. and G.J. Kirkpatrick.  Innovative techniques for harmful algal toxin analysis.  Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 20(1): 107-114.

2001 Pierce, R.H., M.S. Henry, P. Blum, and S. Payne. Gymnodinium breve toxins without cells:  Intra-cellular and extra-cellular toxins. In:  G.M. Hallegraeff, S.I. Blackburn, C.J. Bolch, and R.J. Lewis (eds.), Harmful Algal Blooms 2000. IOC of UNESCO, Paris 2001. p. 421-424.

2000 Pierce, R.H., M.S. Henry, D. Kelly and W. Kozlowski.  Hazard Assessment of Temephos Applied to a Southwest Florida Saltmarsh Community.  Journal of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 19(2):501-507.

1996 Pierce, R.H., M.S. Henry, D, Kelly, P. Sherblom, W. Kozlowksy, G. Wichterman and T. W. Miller.  1996.  Temephos distribution and persistence in a southwest Florida saltmarsh community. Jour. American Mosquito Control Assoc. 12(4)637-646.

1995 Sherblom, P.M., D. Kelly and R.H. Pierce.  Baseline survey of pesticide and PAH concentrations from Sarasota Bay, Florida, USA.  Marine Pollution Bull. 30(8):568-573.

1995 Hua, Y., W. Lu, M.S. Henry, R.H. Pierce and R. B. Cole.  1995.  On-line high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry for the determination of brevetoxins in "Red Tide" algae.  Analytical Chemistry  67:11; 1815-23.

1994 Wetzel, D.L., P.M. Sherblom, E.S. VanVleet, R.H. Pierce, M.S. Henry and D. Kelly. Environmental distribution of oil-related hydrocarbons following a spill of number 6 fuel oil in Tampa Bay.  In:  Proceedings of the Oil Spill Symposium (E. Profitt, Ed.), Minerals Management Service, New Orleans, LA.

1993 Pierce, R.H., J. Weeks and J.M. Prappas.  Nitrate toxicity to five species of marine fish.  Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 24(1):105-107.

1992 Pierce, R.H., M.S. Henry, L.S. Proffitt and A.J. deRosset.  Evaluation of solid sorbents for the recovery of polyether toxins (brevetoxins) in seawater.  Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology  49:479-484.

1990 Richards I.S., A.P. Kulkarni, S.M. Brooks and R.H. Pierce.  Florida red tide toxins (brevetoxin) produce depolarization of airway smooth muscle.  Toxicon  28(9):1105-1111.

1990 Pierce, R.H., M.S. Henry, L.S. Proffitt and P.A. Hasbrouck.  Red tide toxin (brevetoxin) enrichment in marine aerosol.  Toxic Marine Phytoplankton (E. Graneli, S. Sundstron, L. Elder and D.M. Anderson, eds.). Elsevier, New York, NY. pp. 397-402.

1989 Pierce, R., M. Henry, S. Boggess and A. Rule.  Marine toxins in bubble-generated aerosol.  In: The Climate and Health Implications of Bubble-Mediated Sea-Air Exchange (E. Monahan and P. van Patton, eds.), Connecticut Sea Grant Publications, CT-SG-89-06, Groton, CT. pp. 27-42.

1989 Buck, J.D. and R.H. Pierce.  Bacteriological aspects of Florida red tides:  a revisit and newer observations.  Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 29(4):317‑326.

1989 Pierce, R.H., R.C. Brown, K.R. Hardman, M.S. Henry, C.L.P. Palmer, T.W. Miller and G. Wichterman. Fate and toxicity of temephos applied to an intertidal mangrove community.  Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association 5(4):569-578.

1989 Proffitt, L.S., R.H. Pierce, M.S. Henry, A.J. deRosset.  Solid Phase Extraction of Red Tide Toxins.  Florida Scientist  52: Supp 1:28.

Department: Directorate of Environmental Health & Ocean Technology